Three Winslow Native American scholars awarded Gates Millennium Scholarship

Award will fund tuition, fees, books and living expenses at any accredited college or university

WINSLOW, Ariz. - On May 14 at the Winslow High School (WHS) Honors Assembly, WHS recognized three outstanding seniors who are recipients of the Gates Millennium Scholarship. Al Ray Marianol, Tatianna Clyde and Fatima Molino were named Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS). As a GMS, they will receive the funds to attend any U.S. accredited college or university of their choice. This renewable scholarship encompasses the cost of tuition, fees, books and living expenses while still honoring grants and other scholarship they may have received.

WHS officials commend the students on their strong leadership, community service and academic achievements that have contributed to their selection as GMS. Their accomplishment is especially notable in context of the more than 24,000 students who applied, making this year's the largest and most competitive group of candidates in the program's history. Only 250 Native Americans across the nation were accepted as Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) and three were at WHS.

In addition to fully funding their educations at any university of their choosing, if they pursue graduate studies in the fields of computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health or science, they will be eligible for GMS fellowship that will fund their education through the master's and doctoral levels.

The GMS program is so much more than the scholarship funds they will receive. Many GMS programs and activities have been designed as resources, to assist with continued development as a leader and to allow you to connect to the Gates Scholar community in a variety of ways. One example among the wide range of resources they provide is the GMS Freshmen Leadership Conference, specifically designed to orient and prepare students for a smooth transition to college and to help them maximize their GMS experience.

Other GMS Leadership Development Programs include Academic Empowerment services (ACE) to support your academic success, graduate school planning for continued education and a mentoring program. There is also an online resource center and a social networking website that provides exclusive access to other Gates Scholars, tips on developing good study habits and time management, a calendar of GMS events and announcements of internships, fellowships and other scholarships, some unique to Gates Scholars.

The Gates Millennium Scholarship is one of the most comprehensive and prestigious scholarships in the nation. Congratulations to Al-Ray Mariano who will be attending the University of Arizona and studying architecture, Tatianna Clyde who will be attending Northern Arizona University and studying education, and Fatima Molina who will be attending University of Arizona and studying biomedical sciences/microbiology.